Ink roller vibrating means



g- 29, 1950 H. F. MEYER ETAL 2,520,688

INK ROLLER vmannc mms Filed Feb, 12, 1946 "4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

- flaw RY A ME YEP 0mm. 55 M #022040 Aug. 29,- 1950 H. F. MEYER a-rm. 2,520,683

INK ROLLER VIBRATING MEANS Filed Feb. l2, 1946 4 Sheet s-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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flrroeh'sys Patented Aug. 29, 1950 INK ROLLER VIBRATING MEANS Henry F. Meyer and Charles W. Harrold, University Heights, Ohio, assignors to Harris-Seybold Company, a corporation of Delaware Application February 12, 1946, Serial No. 647,062

12 Claims. (01. 101--348) This invention relates to improvements in ink roller vibrating means, particularly vibrating means which is adjustable from vibration of zero extent through an indefinite number of intermediate adjustments to vibration of predetermined maximum extent. While intended primarily for application to printing press inkers, it is applicable to other machines where reciprocation or lengthwise Vibration of rotating rollers is desired.

In printing press inkers certain of the rollers are usually oscillated lengthwise to obtain better distribution of ink. It is desirable that the extent of such movement be variable in order to suit the amount of oscillation to the consistency of the ink and the speed of operation of the press. It is also desirable and important at times to eliminate oscillation of the rollers entirely, in order to enable the printing of several colors of ink at the same time by the same set of rollers, the diiferent colors being separated in the ink fountain by so-called dividers.

It is also desirable that the. frequency of oscillation of the rollers be properly chosen in relation to the rotational speed of the printing cylinders, and this usually requires that the rollers oscillate once for two or more revolutions of the printing cylinders.

Another desirable feature of inkers is that most or all of the oscillating rollers be so operated that they change their direction of movement at different times in order that the load on the mechanism may be evenly distributed and that the printing shall not be streaked by a simultaneous changing of the direction of roller movement.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a simple and efiicient form of roller oscillating device which is adjustable as to the extent of oscillation imparted.

Another object is the provision of an oscillator disk of particularly advantageous form.

Another object is the provision of simple mechanism for driving an oscillator member at different speed relative to other driven members of the inker.

Another object is the provision of simple and compact means for mounting an adjustable oscillator member upon the operating connections for driving that member at a rate of angular speed less than that of the concentric driving gear which turns the inking roller to be vibrated.

Another object is the provision and arrangement of parts such that the thrust surfaces between the oscillator member and the inking roller will turn upon each other with a minimum of slip Still another object is the provision of collars on the inking roller cooperating with opposed surfaces of the oscillator disk and adapted to contact both surfaces of the disk at all times.

Other objects and features of novelty will appear as we proceed with the description of those embodiments of the invention which, for the purposes of the present application, we have illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of an inker embodying the invention, certain of the parts being shown diagrammatically.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic end illustration of a series of rollers making up the inker.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the drive shaft and one of the vibrating roller shafts, showing the oscillator disk in position to produce maximum vibration of an inking roller.

Fig. 4 is a similar View with certain parts removed and with the oscillator disk in a position of adjustment to eliminate vibration of the inking roller.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but with the gearing removed.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view, partly in section upon the line 66 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of the oscillator disk and its mounting, a portion being shown in section substantially along the line 'l--'| of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a fragmental view on a larger scale illustrating the thrust surfaces between the oscillator disk and the vibrating roller.

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are detail plan views illustrating the action of the oscillator disk upon the thrust collars of the vibrating roller, and

Figs. 12 and 13 are fragmental views showing modifications of the interengaging elements on the oscillator disk and vibrating roller.

The invention is illustrated in connection with an inker in which a plurality of inking rollers are arranged around a drive gear which meshes with and drives a gear fixed on each of the rollers, the invention being particularly adapted to such an inker although not exclusively so, as will be apparent.

In the drawings I0 is one member of an inker frame having a similar member, not shown, at the other side of the press, the two members being joined together by suitable tie rods, not shown, to form a, rigid frame for supporting the rollers, ink fountain, driving mechanism and.

3 other parts, all in the usual manner. Frame I6 is formed with pads II which rest on and are secured to the main frame |2 of the press which supports the plate or form cylinder I3.

The inker, see Fig. 2 particularly, comprises a plurality of oscillatable rollers l4, l5, |6, I1 and I8 supported in frame In around a shaft I9 which constitutes the main driving shaft of the inker. A so-called transmission roller 20 is freely rotatable on shaft l9. Between rollers 20 and I4 there are two composition covered rollers 2| and 22, and between rollers 28 and I5 there are two composition rollers 23 and 24. Roller 24 is also in contact with roller |6. Composition covered rollers 25 and 26 are arranged between rollers l6 and I1 and I1 and I8 respectively, as illustrated. 21 is a ductor roller and 28, 29 illustrate schematically a fountain roller and fountain body respectively.

Form rollers 30 are arranged between the oscillatable storage rollers l4, l5 and plate cylinder l3 for transferring ink from the storage rollers to the plate. The direction of rotation of the various rollers is indicated by arrows in Fig. 2 from which the path of ink may be easily traced.

Each of the rollers M to l8 inclusive comprises a shank or shaft, that for roller |8 being indicated at l8, Fig. 3, and the others being similar thereto. To the outer end of each of these roller shafts is keyed a gear, these gears being numbered 34, 35, 36, 31 and 38 respectively, and being best shown in Fig. 1. Each gear is held against a'shoulder on its roller shaft by a nut 39.

Meshing with each of the gears 34, 35, 36, 31 and 38 is a driving gear 40 keyed to shaft l9 and provided with four openings 4| in its web. A driving pinion 42, carried on stud 43 mounted in frame I8, meshes with and drives gear 40 and is in turn driven by sprocket 44 and chain 45 which receive power from any suitable connection with the press, not shown. The proportions of the gears and other driving elements is such that gear 40 and shaft l9 make one revolution for each revolution of plate cylinder l3, and the rollers M to l8 inclusive are given a peripheral speed equal to that of cylinder I3. The other rollers of the inker are driven either directly or indirectly by surface contact with one or more of the driven rollers or the plate cylinder.

A roller 20, as previously mentioned, is freely rotatable on shaft I9, on which it is held against lengthwise movement by a collar 46 secured to the shaft at each end of the roller. This roller is driven by surface contact with rollers 2| and 23.

Shaft I9 is journaled in bushing 41 in frame l8, Fig. 3, and in a similar bushing at its other end, and is held endwise by collars 48 bearing against the frame members at each side of the machine. The end of shaft l9, which projects beyond the frame member at that side of the machine and carries gear 40, is also journaled in a bracket 49 which is secured rigidly to frame l0.

On the shaft l9 at a point spaced from gear 48 and substantially abutting the frame I there is keyed a pinion 50. Between these two gears there is mounted on the shaft a hub having a bushing 52 bearing directly upon the shaft. A thrust washer 53 is interposed between hub 5| and pinion 50. I-Iub 5| carries a web 54 of circular form which extends radially outward for a. considerable distance, ending in a flange 55 having internal teeth. The flange 55 with the teeth formed therein thus constitutes an internal gear. The frame l0 on the side of pinion 56 which is remote from hub 5| is formed with a cylindrical boss 56 which surrounds but is eccentric to shaft l9 and its bushing 41. Boss 56 constitutes a bearing for a ring 51 which carries an intermediate gear 58 that is provided with teeth on both its inner and outer surfaces. These teeth mesh with the teeth of internal gear 55 and with the teeth of pinion 50, as shown particularly in Fig. 6. The proportions of these gears are such preferably that internal gear 55, and hence hub 5|, turn at substantially half the angular speed of pinion 50.

Hub 5| comprises a pair of opposed bosses 66 which are drilled to take aligned pins 6| that project radially outward and are received within journal openings in cars 62 formed at opposite points on a ring shaped carrier 63 having an internal periphery large enough to clear the hub 5| in all positions of the carrier. Carrier 63 is machined to form a cylindrical seat 64 and a shoulder 65. A disk 66 having a central opening therethrough of the proper size fits upon the seat 64 and abuts shoulder 65. A series of gibs 68, mounted upon carrier 63 by means of cap screws 69, press upon disk 66 and hold it in place upon the carrier. The making of the carrier and the disk separately is for manufacturing convenience only, and has no operational significanoe.

At two opposed points on a diameter at right angles to the pins 6| the disk 66 is drilled and tapped to receive adjusting screws 10 which may be held in desired adjustment by means of lock nuts 1|. The web 54 carries two laterally extending bosses 12 and 13 in each of which there is mounted a hardened insert 14 against which the ends of the screws 18 bear. The maximum inclination of the oscillator disk is shown in Fig. 3'. An indefinite number of other angles may be obtained between that position and the right angle position of Fig. 4. Access to the screws 18 may be had through the openings 4| in the gear 46. The rim of the oscillator disk 66 is preferably rounded in cross-section providing contact or thrust surfaces which are symmetrical about the median plane of the disk. The thrust surfaces 15 and 16, see Fig. 8 particularly, are adapted to contact conical thrust surfaces 11 and 18 respectively on two collars 19 and mounted on the shaft l8. Collar 19 preferably engages a shoulder on the shaft, and it may-be secured to the shaft against rotation by a setscrew 84, although this is not essential. The other collar 80 is urged toward collar 19 by a coil spring 6| which bears at one end against gear 38 and at the other against a shoulder on the collar. The collar 80 is slidable on the shaft, and may or may not be keyed to turn with the shaft. Collars 19 and 80 straddle the rim of oscillator disk 66, so that whatever wobble of the disk results from its inclination will be communicated to the thrust surfaces 11 and 18 of the collars, and thus cause vibration of the roller IS. The other rollers |4, l5, l6 and I1 will of course vibrate to the same extent as roller I8, but the strokes will be stepped in point of time rather than simultaneous, thereby distributing the load and preventing the streaking which might occur if the direction of movement of all of the inking rollers were to be changed simultaneously.

Different positions occupied by disk 66 during a revolution are shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11, in relation to the collars on shaft l8. It will be apparent from a consideration of these figures that the collars 19 and 88 must be farther apart when the rim of disk 66 crosses shaft l8 at an oblique angle, as it does in Fig. 10, than when the rim crosses the shaft substantially at right angles, as it does at the ends of the roller strokes as shown in Figs. 9 and 11. The function of the springal is to enable the collars I9 and 80 to spread apart when necessary and yet maintain contact with the disk. This spring may be suificiently strong to withstand without substantial deformation the pressure of disk 66 tending to oscillate the roller. Alternatively, spring 8| may be somewhat weaker, or may be omitted altogether. In the latter case there will be provided sufficient space between the collars to accommodate the disk 66 in its most angular position without bind- When disk 66 is adjusted to occupy a plane at right angles to its axis of rotation, as in Fig. 4, no oscillation is imparted to the collars l9 and 88 on the various roller shafts. In fact the disk in this position serves as a means for holding the rollers against oscillation. Under such conditions it is preferable to employ spring 8|, since it serves to maintain the collars l9 and 86 in contact with the disk.

The diameter of disk 66, the shape of its rim, and the diameter and shape of collars I9 and 8|] are preferably so chosen that there is substantially no tendency of one set of thrust surfaces to slide upon the surfaces of the other set at the speeds imparted thereto by the driving gears. While exactly equal travel of the contact points of the two contacting surfaces may not be achieved in all positions of the disk, it is preferred to approximate this condition as nearly as possible, and this has been done in the illustrated form of the invention.

If desired the thrust surfaces on the disk and the collars may be differently arranged than in the preferred form. For example a disk 85 (Fig. 12) may be provided with a groove in its periphery, leaving thrust surfaces 86 and 81 on opposite sides thereof, which engage thrust surfaces 88 and 89 on a collar 98 secured to the inking roller shaft 9|.

In another modification (Fig. 13) a disk 92 is provided with a groove having substantially straight thrust surfaces 93 and 94 which engage the rounded surface of a roller 95 carried on a stud 96 in a block 91 through which extends loosely the shaft 98 of an inking roller. The block is held against rotation by rod 99 fixed in the frame l and projecting through a bore in the block, while movement of the block induced by the disk 92 is transmitted to shaft 98 through a pair of collars I00 which are pinned to the shaft.

Thus, while the member for reciprocating the I rollers is herein called a disk, and in its preferred form is a flat circular plate with rounded rim, this term is descriptive rather than limiting, it being understood that such member may take various forms within the spirit of the invention.

The operation of the device will be evident from the preceding description and will be only briefly summarized. Power from the press is transmitted by chain 45, sprocket 44 and pinion 42 to gear 48, which rotates once for each revolution of plate cylinder l3 and drives gears 34 to 38 inclusive and their associated rollers I4 to II! inclusive. Gear 40, being keyed to shaft l9, drives that shaft and, through the medium of pinion 50, intermediate gear 58, drives hub 5|, pivot pin 6|, carrier 63 and disk 66, the gear ratios being such as to 6 cause disk 66 to rotate once for each two revolu tions of plate cylinder l3. The rim of disk 66 engages collars 'I9 and 88 on the various rollers M to l8 inclusive, and causes more or less oscillation of the latter or prevents oscillation thereof, depending upon the angular relation of the disk to shaft I9.

When it is desired to change the extent of oscillation of the inking rollers, the angle of disk 66 is changed while the machine is at rest by loosening lock nuts 1|, then loosening one of the screws 10 and tightening the other until the desired angular position of disk 66 is obtained, after which lock nuts II are again tightened and the machine is ready for further operation. If no oscillation is desired disk 66 is adjusted to a position at right angles to shaft l9, as shown in Fig. 4.

Having thus described our invention, claim:

1. In an inker for a printing press, an oscillatable inking roller, an oscillator disk having oppositely disposed thrust surfaces at its rim, means on the inking roller comprising oppositely disposed thrust surfaces cooperating with the thrust surfaces on the disk to produce oscillation of the inking roller upon rotation of the disk, means for rotating the oscillator disk, and a mounting for the disk adapted to support the latter at an angle to its axis of rotation, said mounting including adjustable means for supporting the disk at different selected angles relative to said axis including a right angle, and spring means adapted to urge one of said roller thrust surfaces against the disk in all positions of the latter, whereby when said disk is adjusted to said right angle position the inking roller is held against oscillation.

2. In an inker for a printing press, an oscillatable inking roller, an oscillator disk rotatable about an axis parallel to the inking roller, said disk being provided at its periphery with a pair of thrust surfaces which are formed in the disk on opposite sides of the medium plane thereof, said roller comprising a pair of collars disposed in opposing relation to the thrust surfaces of said disk, and one of said collars being spring pressed toward its corresponding thrust surface on said disk, whereby said collars are resiliently urged toward both surfaces of said disk at all times.

3. In an inker for a printing press, a drive shaft, an oscillatable inking roller parallel thereto, an oscillator disk surrounding said shaft and rotatable about the axis thereof, said disk being provided at its periphery with a pair of thrust surfaces which are rounded in cross-section and are symmetrically formed in the disk on opposite sides of the median plane thereof, said roller comprising a pair of collars straddling said disk and having thrust surfaces cooperating with the thrust surfaces on said disk, one of said collars being spring pressed toward the other, whereby contact with both sides of said disk is maintained at all times.

4. In an inker for a printing press, an oscillatable inking roller, bearings therefor, said roller comprising a shaft projecting beyond one of said bearings, a drive shaft parallel to said roller, an oscillator disk surrounding and driven from said drive shaft, intermeshing gears on said drive shaft and roller shaft, said projecting shaft carrying a pair of thrust collars straddling the rim of said oscillator disk, one of said collars being longitudinally fixed to its shaft and the other being slidable thereupon, and a compression 7 spring interposed between the slidable collar and the gear on said roller shaft.

5. Mechanism as claimed in claim 1, including a gear on the inking roller, a driving gear meshing therewith, said driving gear having its axis of rotation coincident with that of said disk, and reduction gearing between said driving gear and said disk comprisin only elements surrounding said axis.

6. Mechanism as claimed in claim 4, in which the oscillator member comprises a circular plate having a rim rounded in cross-section.

7. In an inker for a printing press, a plurality of oscillatable inking rollers, a gear on each of said rollers, a driving gear meshing with each of the gears on said rollers, a rotating oscillator disk having its axis of rotation coincident with the axis of said driving gear and having oppositely disposed thrust surfaces at its rim, oppositely disposed thrust surfaces on the inking rollers cooperating with the thrust surfaces on the disk to produce oscillation of the inking rollers upon rotation of the disk, a mounting for the disk adapted to support the latter at an oblique angle to its axis of rotation, and means interconn-ecting said driving gear and said disk for causing rotation of the latter at an angular speed different from that of the driving gear.

8. In an inker for a printing press, a drive shaft, an oscillatable inking roller parallel thereto, a small gear and a large gear keyed to said shaft in spaced relation, an internal gear in the same plane with said small gear, intermediate gear means for transmitting motion from said small gear to said internal gear at reduced angular speed, a hub element rotatably mounted on said shaft between said small and large gears, a connecting web between said hub and said internal gear for rotatably supporting the latter, an oscillator disk surrounding said hub and pivotally mounted thereon to swing about an axis transverse to said shaft, adjusting screws mounted in said disk at opposed points 90 from said transverse axis adapted to engage said web for determining the inclination of said disk, and a gear on said roller meshing with said large gear.

9. In an inker for a printing press, a driving shaft, an oscillatable inking roller parallel thereto, a small gear and a large gear keyed to said shaft in spaced relation, an internal gear in the same plane with said small gear, a hub element rotatably mounted concentric with said shaft between said small and large gears, an eccentric bearing on the other side of said small gear, an internally and externally toothed intermediate gear mounted on said eccentric bearing and meshing with said small gear and said internal gear, a connecting web between said hub and said internal gear for rotatably supporting the latter, an oscillator disk mounted upon said hub and operatively connected with said roller, and a gear on said roller meshing with said large gear.

10. In an inker for a printing press, an oscillatable inking roller, a drive shaft parallel thereto, a drive gear on said shaft and a driven gear on said roller meshing therewith, an oscillator disk surrounding said drive shaft, gearing comprising ring gears surrounding said drive shaft for rotating said disk at reduced speed, said disk having thrust surfaces symmetrically formed therein on opposite sides of the perimeter thereof, and means on the linking roller cooperating with the thrust surfaces on said disk to produce oscillation of the inking roller upon rotation of the disk, the effective diameters of the thrust surfaces of said disk being greater than the pitch diameter of said drive gear and the diameters of the thrust surfaces on said inking roller being less than the pitch diameter of the inking roller gear whereby slippage between said disk and said inking roller thrust surfaces is minimized.

11. Mechanism of the character described, comprising a plurality of oscillatable inking rollers, a drive shaft parallel thereto, intermeshing gears on said shaft and said rollers, an oscillator disk surrounding said shaft, gearing between said shaft and said oscillator disk for driving the latter at an angular speed less than that of said shaft, said disk having a diameter greater than the pitch diameter of the gear on said drive shaft, and thrust surfaces symmetrically formed therein on opposite sides of the perimeter thereof, thrust surfaces on the inking rollers cooperating with said thrust surfaces on the disk to produce oscillation of the inking rollers, the effective diameters of the thrust surfaces on the rollers and the oscillator disk being such in relation to the pitch diameters of said gears and the relative angular speed of said shaft and said disk that cooperating thrust surfaces on the disk and on the rollers are caused to move at substantially the same linear speed, whereby sliding of such surfaces upon ach other is minimized.

12. An inker for a printing press as defined in claim 7, wherein said oscillator disk is angularly adjustable with respect to its axis, and wherein the oppositely disposed thrust surfaces at the rim of the disk are symmetrical.

HENRY F. MEYER. CHARLES W. HARROLD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th file, of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 886,367 Harris et a1. May 5, 1908 1,607,931 White Nov. 23, 1926 1,882,033 Pirinoli Oct. 11, 1932 1,969,942 Phythian Aug. 14, 1934 2,006,302 Robbins June 25, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 242,992 Germany Jan. 30, 1912 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,520,688 August 29, 1950 HENRY F. MEYER ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 5, line 7 4, after gear 58 and before the comma insert and internal gear 55; column 6, line 43, for the Word medium read median;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oifice. Signed and sealed this 26th day of December, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

